Prediction: Shaw Internet customers will really like this
By Greg O’Brien
CALGARY — In a move the company says is meant to reward its wired broadband customers while building its wireless subscriber count out west, Shaw Communications is launching today its new Shaw Mobile branded service.
Exclusive to British Columbia and Alberta, Shaw Mobile is meant to leverage the company’s LTE network, its Fibre+ network and 450,000 Wi-Fi hotspots to offer Shaw Internet customers a way to add wireless that promises to dramatically reduce their monthly wireless data bill.
Beginning today, Shaw Fibre+ Internet subscribers can add up to six wireless lines of…
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OTTAWA — As part of the federal government’s stated commitment to help reduce the cost of some wireless plans by 25% over the next two years, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada Navdeep Bains today released data showing how prices have not yet declined for the data plans the department has chosen to study.
Over the next two years, the federal government expects the three major wireless providers and their flanker brands, which together represent 90% of the national market, to offer data plans in the 2 GB to 6 GB range that are 25% cheaper than they…
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Rogers in favour of transport subsidies for rural fund
By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – Rogers and Bell are among those in favour of a “flexible” approach for the use of the Federal government’s yet-to-be-announced $1 billion Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) to support rural backbone, transport and last-mile projects, according to Rogers and a briefing note prepared for the rural economic development minister.
In a stakeholder page on its website, ISED asks those providing feedback on the program’s design to answer questions including: “In situations where government is only funding backbone investments, how could last-mile investments be facilitated?” And, “Are there particular…
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GATINEAU — Telus today received approval from the CRTC for a broadcasting licence to operate a national on-demand TV channel, which according to Telus’s application proposes to air a variety of general interest content.
Update: The wording of this new licence confused us and others a little bit, but we’ve been informed by Telus this is simply a licence to operate its own pay-per-view service.
Some of the English-language programming indicated in the application includes live and tape-delayed professional and amateur sports, and live and tape-delayed special events including programs of comedy sketches, improvisations, unscripted works, stand-up comedy, music and dance,…
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By Ahmad Hathout
GATINEAU – For the first time in five years, private conventional TV revenues increased nationwide in 2019, according to CRTC data released earlier this month.
The accumulated broadcasting data from the Regulator for the year ended August 31, 2019, show an increase to $1.55 billion from $1.54 billion in 2018 for all Canadian OTA TV revenue streams, including local and national time sales, network payments, infomercials, syndication, small market and independent local programming funds and government grants. National ad sales grew a healthy 2.5% to $1.05 billion. The 2019 revenue increase effectively stopped a continued revenue slide since…
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MARKHAM, Ont. — Huawei smartphone users in Canada now have a new way to access mobile apps with the launch today of Huawei’s new Petal Search tool.
Available for download from AppGallery on Huawei devices, the search tool offers an open gateway to download and update a million apps, as well as easily search for news, images and more, all directly from the home screen of the device.
Petal Search is now one of three ways in which Huawei users can find, download and update apps onto their Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) devices, alongside AppGallery and Huawei’s Phone Clone app. AppGallery…
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TMG CEO says deck is stacked against him
By Denis Carmel
GATINEAU – Telus has filed a complaint against Telelatino Media Group, accusing the ethnic broadcaster of undue preference, undue disadvantage and tied selling, in violation of the CRTC Wholesale Code. Telus is also asking for leniency from the Commission because it has been in non-compliance with BDU regulations because of this dispute.
In its regs, the CRTC says a distributor which carries a third-language, foreign-owned service must also carry, in the same tier, a Canadian service serving the same ethnic group as long as one is available. It’s known as…
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TORONTO — Saying it’s the first national carrier to offer wireless accessory financing, Rogers announced today customers will now be able to get headphones, smartwatches, cases and such for $0 down, 0% interest and no taxes paid upfront.
Accessories available with Rogers’ new financing option include AirPods and AirPods Pro, Beats, Google Nest products, phone cases, screen protectors, chargers, smartwatches and smart bulbs. (Telus is offering customers the option to finance its new Track+ tracker device, which it launched Wednesday.)
“By extending our financing option to accessories, we’re offering an affordable one-stop destination for our customers to finance the smartwatches, phone…
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VANCOUVER — Smartphone users can now track pets, purses, backpacks and other items (including the people carrying them) with the new Track+ device launched by Telus today.
Track+ can be used in Canada and the U.S. anywhere 4G LTE wireless network coverage is available. Users don’t need to be Telus wireless subscribers to purchase and use the tracker device. The Track+ app can be used on iPhones (iPhone 5 or newer with iOS 11.0 or newer) and newer Android smartphones (with Android 5.0 or newer).
The retail price for the device is $120, but the Telus Track+ plan allows customers to…
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However, people are starting to return to stores and advertisers are coming back
TORONTO — Rogers Communications this morning reported second quarter 2020 results which reflected a full-quarter impact of the Covid-19 economic shutdown. (Expect Bell Canada, Telus and Quebecor to report similar impacts when they file Q2 results in the coming days.)
RCI’s revenue was impacted by the pandemic across the board, decreasing overall by 17% to $3.2 billion in Q2 2020, ended June 30, compared to the second quarter of 2019. The revenue decline was largely driven by 13% and 17% decreases in wireless service and equipment revenue, respectively,…
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